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QMI Agency

Sep 5, 2012

, Last Updated: 8:46 PM ET

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman will ask the owners for authorization to lock the players out at a board of governors meeting a couple of days before the current CBA expires, according to the New York Post.

No negotiating sessions are scheduled for this week even though the clock is slowly ticking towards Sept. 15, when Bettman will shut down the league if he's granted approval. Talks broke down last week and show no signs of resuming.

The Post reported that the NHL has rejected the NHLPA's offer to meet again to talk about "non-core" economic issues.

"We actually don't think that meeting on the other issues while the main economic issues remain uncertain would be particularly constructive or productive in terms of resolving those issues," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly wrote in an email to The Post. "A lot has already been done and most of those issues are teed up for resolution if the main issues can be addressed."

One of the NHL's proposals included a management rights clause that would allow the league to have total control over things like realignment, scheduling and the playoff format, according to the Post. Last season, the NHLPA scuttled the league's proposed four-conference format and playoff change, which would have come into effect in 2012-13.